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water

Over the decades, the Netherlands has developed sustainable systems for the production and supply of water and for the collection, treatment and partial reintroduction of "used" water into the system.

Dutch water expertise helps solve global water issues

Climate change, expanding economies, and urbanisation
are putting the world’s delta populations at risk. Dutch expertise is at hand,
however, in the form of hydraulic engineering, flood control, flood protection,
foundation technology and infrastructure. The Dutch are renowned for their
ability to design and build storm surge barriers and levees, reclaim land
through high-tech dredging and engineer entire coastal areas and harbours. The
Dutch also excel at river engineering and maintenance and are pioneering
climate adaptive construction, which allows houses to be built in flood-prone
areas.

At the same time, billions of people worldwide lack access to clean water and
sanitary facilities. Dutch water technology, however, is making a difference. Water is collected, filtered and
re-cycled with high levels of quality and service in an integrated cycle, with
the focus on sustainable economic development. Dutch companies are
recognised specialists in the treatment of industrial waste water and several
consultancies are globally respected for their water treatment expertise. Dutch
academia and the private sector invest heavily in water-related R&D, which
has resulted in innovations including membrane technology, anaerobic water
purification, membrane bioreactor (MBR - small scale and high quality) and
Anammox technology.

Key aspects and strengths

Two-thirds
of the Netherlands
would flood if it weren’t for flood protection structures, integrated coastal development and river
basin management. Experience in this area, built up over the course of
centuries, is in great demand worldwide. Dutch delta technology specialists are currently
aiding in the reconstruction of levees in New Orleans
and have built flood protection systems in London,
Venice and St. Petersburg.

The Dutch began using innovative
waste water treatment techniques in the 1970s. Some 99.9
per cent of Dutch households have access to clean, chlorine-free drinking
water. Addtionally, the level of re-cycling of industrial waste water is
high, and the water is of sufficient quality for use in the food and
beverage industries.

The
Dutch are renowned for their integrated water management and
multi-disciplinary approach that balances social, economic, environmental
and engineering needs. Dutch companies are involved in the sustainable
development of low-lying urban agglomerations such as Jakarta
and Bangladesh, and
coastal development in areas such as Dubai,
Vietnam and Romania.

The
Dutch invest heavily in innovation and R&D through public-private
partnerships that align the interests and resources of government,
business and research partners. These include renowned institutes such as
Deltares and Wetsus. Large Dutch private firms are also recognised for
their cutting-edge R&D.

There
is strong institutional support and active public-private cooperation that
focuses on international cooperation and the creation of water networks.
Committed to a better approach to international water management, the
Dutch government has signed bilateral agreements to advance integrated
water management in countries across the globe.

Facts & Figures

Around 2,000 companies are
active in the Dutch water sector, of which 1,500 in water
technology and 500 in
delta technology.

Turnover
of the Dutch water sector (domestic market and export) was 16.4 billion
euros in 2008, of which 57 per cent was earned by water technology
companies. Exports amounted to 6.5 billion euros that same year.

The
Delta Works is the world's largest flood protection project with more than
16,500
kilometres of levees and 300 structures.

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